Improvement in earth-closets



G. H. VROOM. Earth-Closet.

Patented Nov. 12, 1872.

GEORGE H. VEOOM, OF ZANESVILLE, OHIO.

MPROVEMENT IN EARTH-CLOSETS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 133,()71, datedNovember 12, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. VRooM, of Zanesville, in the county ofMuskingum and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Earth -Closets, of which the following is aspecification:

My invention relates to closets or commodes wherein the exerementitiousmatter from the person is covered and deodorized by earth or otherdeodorizers thrown into the stool; and my said invention consists in thecombination and arrangement of the several Operating parts and theirconnections with each other and the seat, the Construction and mode ofaction of which will be more fully hereinafter described.

The accompanyin g drawn grepresents views, in section, of my improvedearth-closet, the parts being in different positions, and illustrate theinvention.

The closet may be of any desired Construction best adapted to myimprovements.

To the frame A, near the seat, is pivoted a lever, B, which is connectedto the seatcover O by a link, a, so that by lifting the seatcover thelever B is made to oscillate the semi-cylindrical receiving anddiseharging chamber D, by means of a link, I), attached eccentrically tothe end of said chamber and to the end of the leVer. Attached to andforming part of this chamber D, which is mounted upon journals in theframe, is a measuring-chute, E, which serves to discharge and distributethe proper quantity of earth,

'or other deodorizer, from the oscillating reeeiver over the excrementin the stool. This chamber D, being semi-cylindrical, the opening othereof receive's the mouth of the hopper F, which is pivoted at (l inthe upright boxed frame G, so that its mouth will extend to near thebottom of the said chamber. A waste-pan, H, is attached to the frameunder the discharging-chute, and acts also as a seal to the mouth ofsaid chute when the cover is raised.

The operation of my improved earth=closet is as follows: When the lid israised the lever B is made to oscillate the receiving and dischargin gchamber D in one direction, by means heretofore described, so as tobring the chute E within the sealing-pan, and thereby agitate 'thepivoted hopper F, which is filled with the deodorizing substance, bystriking against its side; this agitation fills the chamber D and chuteE, and the lid being closed the reverse motion of the chamber takesplace, so as to bring the chute over the stool, and they empty thesubstance therein beneath the seat. When the lid is closed the lever Boperates to render the chamber D a perfect seal to the hopper, which isa highly advantageous feature, as shown in Fig. l of the drawing.

It will be observed that the hopper, by its weight, will always seek avertical position within the oscillating chamber, and that when thecover is raised the rear side e of the receiving-cha'mber will strikethe rear side of the hopper and give it a sudden jar, which causes theearth to fall out into the same cylindrical chamber into the chute,which has by this movement been brought into line with the mouth of thehopper, as shown in Fig. 2, but being sealed by the waste-pan, it isheld therein until the lid is closed, when the filled chute is unsealedand its contents discharged by being turned to a position nearly atright angles to the hopper, which position of the chute brings thebottom of the semi-cylindrical chamber beneath the mouth of the hopper,and opens it; in this way both the chute and the hopper are sealed andopened alternately, as shown in the drawing. The chamber is about fourinches in diameter .and five inches long, and from the center of thechamber to the lower end of the measure-chute is about seven inches.

For commodes having no hinged seats the cylinder may be operated by apull-up as used in water-closets, the lever being connected to thepull-up instead of the seat.

Heretofore earth-elosets have been excessively complicated inConstruction, and really have required the exercise of some littletrouble and skill to operate them decently. and properly. My presentimprovements obviate every objection and difficulty which has hithertobeen encountered in the use of these articles. The apparatus is verysimple and cheap in its eonstruction and' absolutely automatic in itsaction.

Having described-my invention, I claim- In testinony whereof I havehereunto set In an earth-eloset, the eombnaton of the my hand in thepresence of two subserbng lever B, semi-cylindrea-l ehzmber D Withwitnesses.

its distrbuting-chute E, the hopper F, con- GEO. H. VROOM. meeting-linksa and b, and the cover C, n

the several pa'ts being construeted and ar- NVitnesses:

ranged to operate as and for the purpose de- DANIEL B. GARY,

scrbed. ELLIs BALLOW.

